African Immigrant and Refugee Academic Advocate 203 views

IRCO is looking for an African Immigrant and Refugee Academic Advocate

About IRCO:

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to serve immigrants, refugees, and the broader community in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to promote the integration of refugees, immigrants, and the community at large into a self-sufficient, healthy, and inclusive multi-ethnic society.

Location: USA

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule: Monday to Friday

Position Summary:

The African Immigrant and Refugee Academic Advocate will work with IRCO’s youth staff, SUN site coordinators, and staff from various schools to engage students and their families in their school environments in a positive and culturally appropriate way. The staff is responsible for providing academic advising and after-school academic group activities up to 2-4 times per week. Academic Advising includes regular goal setting around academics and school attendance, engaging students in academic programming and in the summer, regularly communicating with school staff and parents around student progress and challenges, regular bilingual/bicultural school to home and home to school communication. In addition to this staff will conduct quarterly parent group activities during the school and year and summer, as well as regular professional development and collaboration with school staff around AI cultures and communities. This staff is expected to use creative and culturally appropriate approaches with students and families when designing and implementing program activities, build positive relationships with families, school staff and IRCO colleagues, implement restorative justice practices in programming and work closely with Program Coordinator to meet program goals and objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Engage youth in culturally specific academic advising: developing individualized student plan, academic goal setting, track student academic progress and attendance, follow-up with students/families/staff as needed, family engagement around student progress/challenges, regular communication with school staff
• Design, implement and conduct academic student group activities during the school year and summer
• Administer pre/post academic assessments for all program participants
• Work closely with school administration and staff to identify families in need of support, outreach to these families
• Provide individualized support, resource development, and referral services to families
• Perform client intake and assessment
• Provide school-linked family support including bilingual/bicultural school to home and home to school communication
• Work collaboratively with IRCO and school staff to engage parents in their school environment in a positive and meaningful way
• Conduct family support activities such as home visits, and intensive phone outreach to update parents on their children’s educational progress.
• Provide parent educational activities around key school topics such as: school programs and policies, academic programs, learning in the home, and problem solving
• Work with curriculum developer to create and archive culturally specific student academic lesson plans/ family group and workshop lessons plans
• Plan and chaperone program outings and fieldtrips in accordance with standard procedures
• Maintain accurate and confidential records on each client, including intake/assessment information, action/service plans, hours of service, and all contacts and referrals made.
• Provide translation and interpretation for families throughout the case process
• Responsible for compiling monthly reports and data collection for contract reporting purposes
• Work collaboratively with IRCO’s youth staff to recruit, train, and supervise volunteers, interns and mentors
• Maintain cooperative external relationships with collaborative agencies, volunteer agencies, community, and public as authorized
• Participate in staff meetings, training, committees, and volunteer activities to support IRCO’s goals
• Participate in school professional development opportunities, share experiences with African Immigrant and Refugee cultures and communities with school staff

Qualifications:

• Knowledge and understanding of the African-based immigrant and refugee cultures and local populations
• Communication and creative skills

Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Experience: 1-2 years of experience is required

Language Required: Bilingual in English and an African Language

Company’s website: https://irco.org/who-we-are/careers.html

Interested candidates please apply.